What type of coal?

J

John79

Joined
Feb 24, 2007
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225
Well, I have decided to build my own coal forge, it will be a smaller one. What type of coal should I use?
 
Soft or bituminus coal. Anthracite coal or hard coal has been used but it's not the best for forging.
 
You can find some more detailed information here about coal content and what you're looking for. The article this info was condensed from was written by a member of my blacksmith guild, so if you end up with any more questions, let me know and I can email Albin for answers.

-d
 
I always liked Hardwood charcoal :D lol, you can find it at any barbeque supply store. Forget charcoal briquettes!
 
mete said:
Soft or bituminus coal. Anthracite coal or hard coal has been used but it's not the best for forging.
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Like Robert said/. I use coal for everything, and have now for 4 or 5 years. If you can find the coal from the "Pocahontas 3" vein from down south in Virginia(i think) that is considered the very very best, but don't think you need that to work, most any soft coal will work great.
 
If your profile is correct and you live in Indy, you're only about 30 minutes or so from Brazil, Indiana and a company called "City Coal"!
Sam is right - you want Pocahontas #3 and they sell it right there.
 
Well, I don't exactly have a lot of money, so I'm not going to be able to spend much... I bet that Pocahontas #3 is a little pricy for me right now. So, this bituminus coal stuff is pretty good? Is there any specific kind of bituminus that I need to know about? Thanks everyone.
 
It's like sixty dollars a TON or something like that.........
I know that for me and a buddy to drive there, the gas and lunch always cost MORE than the coal! For a whole truck load!
Last both of us more than a year!
 
If there's an aubachon hardware out in your area (not sure if they're around much out of new england) they can get decent blacksmithing coal in 50lb bags for you. It's a bit more expensive than buying in bulk, but 250lbs will only run you 45$ + tax.
 
kbaknife said:
Maybe I exaggerated a little.
But, for sure, each time, my 1/2 was about 20 5 gallon buckets @ 40 pounds each = 800 pounds and it was maybe $45.00?
That's a lot of coal for not much money.
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Karl, that is a great price sounds like either way. Almost worth the trip to come out for a truckload, more in gas and stuff than the coal itself!
 
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